In another move aimed at improving the economy, the state House of Representatives today voted initial approval of $3 billion bond bill for general projects and $1.6 billion environmental bond bill.

The bond for general projects, filed in January by the governor, includes $78 million for a new data center in Western Massachusetts and $10 million for a new regional firefighting center in Springfield. That's the same money proposed by the governor for those two projects.

The data center would be located in building 104 of Springfield Technical Community College's technology park.

The bill also includes $50 million to renovate the Franklin County Courthouse in Greenfield, $24 million for an intermodal center and other downtown improvements in Westfield, $10 million to clean up the former Belchertown state school property, $6.7 million for a fire station in Ware, and $500,000 to renovate the old town hall in Easthampton.

In addition, the bill calls for $450 million for jails including money for expanding the Western Massachusetts Regional Women's Correctional Center in Chicopee and replacing modular facilities at the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction in Northampton.